Two medicines, side by side
Beclomethasone vs albuterol
Beclomethasone and albuterol are both labeled for asthma. Drugs@FDA records approvals of beclomethasone since 1976 and of albuterol since 1981. Pharmacies paid $30.23 per gram (Qnasl 80 mcg nasal spray) and $0.288 per albuterol sulfate 2 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ and one is a brand and one a generic, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, beclomethasone is a corticosteroid and albuterol a beta2-adrenergic agonist.
Check it at the source: the beclomethasone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 25, 2024); the albuterol FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 30, 2026).
Highlights of the beclomethasone record
Beclomethasone (Qvar) · label of June 25, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsQVAR REDIHALER is indicated in the maintenance treatment of asthma as prophylactic therapy in adults and pediatric patients 4 years of age and older. Limitations of Use: QVAR REDIHALER is not indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm. QVAR REDIHALER is a corticosteroid indicated for maintenance treatment of asthma as prophylactic therapy in adults and pediatric patients 4 years of age and older. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 12, 1976
- Generic labelers
- 2 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $30.23 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the albuterol record
Albuterol (Ventolin) · label of April 30, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsAlbuterol Inhalation Solution is indicated for the relief of bronchospasm in patients 2 to 12 years of age with asthma (reversible obstructive airway disease).
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 1, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 40 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.288 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- Resolved
- Recalls
- 20
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Beclomethasone label of June 25, 2024, Albuterol label of April 30, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do beclomethasone and albuterol differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, beclomethasone is a corticosteroid and albuterol a beta2-adrenergic agonist.
Generics: beclomethasone since 2025; albuterol since 1989 (Drugs@FDA).
| Beclomethasone | Albuterol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Asthma, Allergies | Asthma |
| Pharmacologic class | Corticosteroid | beta2-Adrenergic Agonist |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | May 12, 1976 | May 1, 1981 |
| First generic approved | December 16, 2025 | January 30, 1989 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 2 labelers | 40 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $30.23 per gram (Qnasl 80 mcg nasal spray) | $0.288 per tablet (Albuterol sulfate 2 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +5% | -38% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | Resolved |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 20 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 5,600 | 292,136 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to beclomethasone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions